Tire making and building apparatus



June 15', 1948. R. J. BEAM 2,443,551

TIRE MAKING AND BUILDINGAPPARATUS Filed oct. 16,1944 v2 sheets-.shewv 1 v June 15, R ]BEAM TIRE MAKING AND BUILDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. '16, 1944 f. H a @my fa/WXL (Ittorneg Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,443,551 n TIRE MAKING AND BUILDING-APPARATUS ARonald J. Beam, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 16, 1944, Serial No. 558,911

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in the art of making pneumatic tires, andV more particularly to an apparatus for constructing'and building fabric carcasses therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pressing, forming and shaping the edges of a preformed circularband of fabric or so-called carcass pocket after it is applied to a co-llapsible forming drum so that the overhanging ledges thereof will be compacted in the rregion of the bead and the successive bands or carcass pockets and plies of fabric Will be united to form a uniform wall structure through the entire circumference of said region.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for shaping and forming the edges of so-called fabric carcass pockets as they are successively applied to a drum so as to insure the edges being folded and compressed into position to form an annular tire carcass blank member built up of a series of superposed carcass pockets which may be readily removedfrom said drum and shaped to form a complete tire carcass.y

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type in which the edge of each fabric carcass band or pocket is simultaneously shaped about the entire peripheral edge of the carcass blank to thereby facilitate the building of fabric carcasses for tires with a great saving in time and labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for shaping, forming and building tire carcasses or tire lcarcass blanks from which the finished carcass is produced by providing a series of yielding resilient fingers arranged and positioned so as to, simultaneously engage the edge of each fabric layer or circular lamination in one direction of movement to press the same into a definite shape in conformity with the end portions of the drum and to smooth the return bent edge of the fabric in another direction of movement to form a beaded area or region on each side of the carcass blank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pressing and smoothing the edges of carcass fabric bands or pockets as they .are applied to a forming drum or the like so that the edges will be shaped for receiving a Wire bead member of annular configuration as the laminations are progressively built up to form a carcass blank. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the `above-mentioned character in which a series of resilient spring lingers are mounted on a carrier and arranged so as to travel inwardly and outwardly a slight distance when the lingers are simultaneously moved toward and away from the forming drum .to thereby cause said lingers to smooth the edge of the fabric layers and compress said fabric into aucompact mass.

An-otherobject of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type above set forth in which the forming fingers may be locked or retained in their contracted positions (which is the position they assume at the end of their initial pressing and formingmovement) by a locking member so that the fingers may kbe moved -away from the fabric edge in their locked position to facilitate the fabric ledge being bent over the conventional wire bead member, whereby the forming lingers may be brought into their operative position so that release o-f the locking member will permit said lingers to expand and smooth the return bent portion'of the fabric into contactual engagement with the previously shaped or preformed fabric edge portion.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent'during the ,course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectionalk View of the pressing, shaping and forming apparatus embodying' the. present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on vthe vzigzag Line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows to illustrate the arrangementof pressing and shaping lingers and the manner in which the f-ree edges thereof are overlapped;

Figure 3`is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the pressing and forming lingers contracted with ,the inner edges thereofoverlapped with adjacent-lingers; L

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end elevational View of thepressing, forming and shaping finger carrier illustrating the locking members for retainingthe pressing, shaping and forming ngers in their contracted position and showing the manner'in which said locking members are simultaneously controlled by a common operator therefor; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional View illustrating the position that the pressing, shaping and forming lingers 'assume when locked in .their contracted position so that when released, the ends of the fingers will smooth and press the return bent edge of the fabric in contactual engagement with the preformedportion thereof 'when the resilient pressing and forming nger carrieris moved away from the forming drum.

Brief description of the invention In the formation and building of heavy duty pneumatic tires, the carcass blank is built up of a series of continuous bands which are known as carcass pockets and are cut on the bias so as to be placed on a forming drum in such a manner as to permit the edges of the fabric to extend over the edges of the drum, whereby the operator can manually press said edges .to conform to the rounded edge of the drum and after a series of bands or pockets have thus been built up, the laminated carcass is completed. The carcass is then placed upon a former which expands and causes the carcass to stretch to a position resembling the cross sectional shape of a vehicle tire casing. The several layers or laminations are caused to adhere one to the other by reason vof a very thin nlm or layer of latex rubber on both sides thereof to partially unite the layers and facilitate .the forming of the edges over the Vforming drum. i f

In the present invention, a collapsible forming drum of conventional structure is adapted to receive the series of fabric .carcass bands or pockets which are cut on the bias so that the edges Will project over the edge of said collapsible drum for being shaped or preformed in the area of the tire bead region. Instead of manually forming the edges over the peripheral edge of the drum, a plurality of movable spring fingers are supported by carriers disposed on opposite sides of the drum so that inward movement of. said carriers will cause said fingers to wipe and smooth the free edges of the fabric and compact the edge portions or areas into a uniform mass so that said edges may be later return bent or folded upon themselves for receiving the bead wire or reenforcing member, After the yielding forming and pressing ngers and carriers have been moved to the limit of their inward travel toward the 'drum and its center, the spring fingers are locked in their contracted position so that they maybe moved away from the forming drum until lafter the free edge of the fabric has been bent or folded on itself and the reenforcing wire positioned in said fold. The forming fingers are then brought back into their previous position vso as to engage .the return bent portion of the fabric, whereupon expansion of said v:lingers as by moving the saine away from the drum, will cause the fabric to be smoothed and pressed into contactual engagement with the previously pressed or preformed portion.v This operation is repeated after each fabric band or lamination has been applied to the drum and after a predetermined number of bands or laminations have been Wound and formed as above described, the drum is collapsed and the carcass blank removed therefrom for being shaped by expansion in a suitable forming lapparatus to cause said carcass blank to assume the cross-sectional shape of a tire casing. After the carcass has thus been formed, the rubber tread and side walls are applied in the usual manner with the aid of suitable molds or the like.

Detailed description of the invention In the drawings, the referencecharacter 5 will generally be employed to designate a shaft which has one end affixed to a suitable support (not shown) and its ,opposite end provided with a collapsible forming drum 6 having a relatively flat peripheral portion and short radial wall portions connected by pre-shaped curved portions 8. The shaft 5 may be supportedin sucha manner as to be rotated so as to permit rotation of the drum when applying the fabric carcass bands 9 thereto, which as mentioned before are of circular form and cut on the bias so as to facilitate the shaping thereof into a completed tire carcass. As illustrated in Figure 1, the first fabric pocket or carcass band 9 is applied to the drum 6 so that a portion of both edges overhangs the preformed edges 8 of the drum, whereby said free edges may -be shaped and compacted to form the beaded zone of the completed pneumatic tire carcass. The next band is applied by spinning the drum and slipping the band laterally thereove-r. The centrifugal force causes the second band to force itselfr from the initially applied band.

The invention comprises a pair of carriers I@ and .II disposed one on each side of the drum Ii with the axis thereof in alignment with the axis of the 'drum l5. The carrier I@ is provided with a hub portion I2 slidably mounted upon the supporting shaft 5 and the .peripheral portion of the carrier l0 is provided with a series of carrier brackets I3 which extend obliquely with respect to the axis of the shaft 5 and drum 6. The inner ends of the carrier brackets I3 are provided with foot portions I4 which are held in place by suitable bolts or the like as at I5 and the free ends fof said carrier brackets I3 are shaped to provide bracket supports I6 for the outer ends of slide rods I1. The inner ends of the slide rods l1 are received in .openings I8 in the disc-like carrier lil and said rods extend in parallelism with the carrier brackets I3.

slidably mounted on each of the slide rods Il is a slide block 20 which is provided with an inwardly projecting bracket portion 2l to which is attached a yielding, pressing, shaping and forming finger 22 constructed of resilient metal or other suitable material, The outer ends of each pressing, forming and shaping finger 22 are bolted or `affixed to the inwardly projecting bracket arms 2I by machine vscrews or the like as at 23 so that the spring fingers will travel With the slide block 20 as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l. A coil spring 24 encircles each slide rod -ITI and has one end thereof abutting the circular carrier head I0 and the opposite end in abutting relation with the slide block ZI] so as to maintain said slide block in the full line position shown in Figure 1.

Formed on each carrier bracket I3 is a pair of upstanding lugs 25 for supporting vlatch members which are adapted to engage the sliding block .2G and retain the resilient forming, pressing and shaping fingers in their contracted positions. The latch member for each carrier bracket carries a bar 26l pivoted to the upstanding lugs 25 as at 2l so that the outer end of each latch bar 26 will be -disposed adjacent the carrier head so as to be `siniultaneously controlledby a common operator. The inner ends of the latch bars 26 are provided with detent projections 28 which are adapted to engage the slide blocks 20 and'retain the yielding, pressing, forming and shaping fingers in their contracted position, A coil spring 29 is inter- .posed between each of the carrier brackets and latch levers 26 so as to normally hold the detent projection 28 out of engagement with the sliding block 20, The carrier head I0 may be operated by uid pressure in a manner which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The carrier head I I is mounted slightly ,differently than the carrier head l and, as indicated `in Figure l, the slide support 3E! is imbedded in the'fioor 3l of the plant so that a slide 32 may be movably mounted thereon. Formed integral galassi with and extending upwardly from the slide 32 is a support 34 which carries, a cylinder 35 at the upper end thereof, having a closure wall 36 at` one end and a closure plate 31 at the opposite endheld in place by machine screws or the like as atr. The under side of the slide 32 is provided with a projection 39 to which is connected one end of a reciprocating plunger rod te' which is controlled by admitting fluid under pressure to a cylinder il on opposite sides of the piston i2 to which the plunger rod e@ is attached.

Suitable mechanism may be provided for admitting fluidunder pressure to the ends of the cylinder lll on opposite sides of the cylinder 42.

Reciprocably mounted within the cylinder 35 is a piston l5 to which is attached or ai'lixed a plunger rod lll which extends through an opening l5 in the closure plate 31 and is sealed by a packing gland llt held in place by screws as at 41. Tightening of the screws d1 will extend the packing member i3 into sealing engagement with the reciprocating'plunger lrod 4d. As indicated in Figure 1the carrier head lI is retained on the reciprocating plunger rod #lll by means of la nut or the like as at e so that when fluid under pressure is admitted to the ends of the cylinder 35 through the pipes 5l) and 5I, on opposite sides of the piston d3, said carrier head will move to and fro from its full line position to its dotted line position and return.

The forming and pressing finger structure is sinfiilart'o'the for-ming and pressing iinger structure on vthe carrier head lll and likewise includes [a series of carrier brackets 52 having angularly disposed inner ends or foot portions 53 for being secured to the peripheral portion of the carrier head "II by machine screws Yor the like as at 5d. The free ends of the carrier brackets are shaped to provide supporting brackets or members 55 for a series of obliquely disposed slide rods 55 so as to 4retain the other ends of the slide rods within recesses or openings 51 arranged in spaced circumferential relation around the peripheral edge of the carrier head l I. Slidably mounted on each of the slide rods 55 is a slide block 58 and each slide block is provided with an inwardly extending bracket portion 59 to which is attached a resilient, yielding, pressing,'shapng and forming finger 5l). Bolts or the like as at 5I are provided for retaining the inner reduced end portionsof the yielding, pressing, shaping 'and forming'iingers in position so that the free ends thereof will overlap with adjacent iingers. It is to be noted in Figure 2 that the inner ends of the pressing, shaping and forming fingers 22 and 5l! are outwardlyflared and that the extreme free edges thereof are arcuately curved asiat 5I to conform to the circular shape desired. rEhe cornerportion 62 of the resilient, pressing, shaping 'and forming iingers are rounded so as to presame directionv with the adjacent edges of the 'fingers overlapping an adjacent iinger.

Coil springs 63 are provided for each of the slide rods ,l 55 with one end in abutting relation with the carrier head II and their opposite ends in abut- Y ting relation with the slide block 5S so as to retain lsaid resilient, pressing, shaping and form- Iing ngersll in their expanded position. Each ofthe carrier brackets 52 is provided with a pair of upsta'nding lugs between which isr pivoted" a latch' lever 65 whichis arranged so that one end thereof will project rearwardly as at V66 and the .blocks 20 and 58 v(Figure 5).

opposite end as at 61 will extend parallel 'with thecarrier brackets/52. lA latch 'detent 68 is formed on the end of each of the latch members B5 and is adaptedto project through an opening 69 in the carrier bracket 52 so as to be disposed within the path of the slide block 58. The ends 66 of the latch levers 65 are disposed so as to be engaged by a control cam ring 10 which is rotatably mounted on the carrier head I I within an annular recess 1I therein. A retaining ring 12 is' held in place by a series of machine screws 13 for engaging said cam ring and preventing displacement thereof. The' peripheral surface of the cam ring 10 isjprovided with a series of notches having cam surfaces 15 for engaging the rounded portions 16 of the latch lever 65 whereby rotation of the cam ring 10 by means of a control member 18 will cause said latch lever to be simultaneously projected into the path of the slide block 58. f

The'carrier head I0 may be operated by a fluid pressure device in a manner similar to the carrier head II, and the pivoted latch bars 25 may likewise be operated by a common cam ring such as the cam ring 1U above described, so as to cause said latch bars 26 to operate in unison and simultaneously lock the slide blocks 20 in their dotted line positions (Figure 1). v

Operation 'of the invention.

In Vthe `forming of heavy duty tire carcass blanks-in accordance with the present invention, the collapsiblendrum 6 may have applied thereto a fabric ban-d of a suitable circular size commonly known as a tire carcass pocket 9 which is cut on the bias and is of Ia suflicient width to overlie the edges of said drum as shown in Figure 1. After the fabric band is applied to the drum 6, the shaft 5 is held stationary and the carrier heads IIl and II are moved inwardly toward one another so that the pressing an-d forming ngers 22 and 6D will engage the overlying edges of the fabric'band or'carcass pocket 9 and press, shape and form th'e same over the curved edge portions 8 .of said drum. As the carrier heads I0 and II move toward one another, the'slide blocks 20 and 58 move at an angle to and toward the axisof the drum so th'at theresilient spring pressing and forming lingers 22 and 60 will likewise move inwardly and cause the overlying edges of the fabric to be compacted and compressed into a uniform mass. By reason of thefact that the fabric 9 is coated or impregnated with a rubber latex compound, the overlying edges of the fabric are caused to fold and unite soas to conform with' the shape ofthe drum 6.

y When the forming heads I0 and I I have moved to the limit of their inward travel, the resilient pressing, and forming ngers will assume a contracted rposition as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,r 'and the overhanging edges of the fabric will be pressed and the folds will be caused to adh'ere to form a compact mass. After the edges of the fabric have thus been shaped, pressed and formed, the latch bars 26 and 55 are operated by manipulating the cam rings therefor as at 10, so as to cause the latch detents 28 and 68 to be extended th'rough their respective openings in the carrier brackets I3 and 52 respectively, so as to project into locking engagement with the vslide 'y In this position the slide blocks 20 and 58 are under the tension of the 'coil springs-f'zlwand vEiland are locked against expansion as shown fin-dotted lines in Figure l. `The carrier heads I and Il may now v.be separated by 'manipulating the -slide supports therefor so that the operatorcan-fposition the usual circular preformed `Wire -bead -members against the formed portions of the overlapping edges of the fabric 9 as indicated in Figure 5, whereupon the operator may fold the `extreme free edge of the fabric back upon `itself to form an envelope and enclose the Wire bead or reenforcing yelement W. When the Yoperator h'as placed the Wire bead member Win position and folded the free edge of the fabric thereover, as shown in Figure 5, the carrier heads l0 and Il may again be brought into operation with' the resilient, yielding, pressing, shaping and forming fingers 22 and 60 in their contractedpositions so that the free edges of the -iingers will engage the return bent edge of the fabricas 'indicated in Figure 5. By releasing the latch levers 26 and 55, the'spring `fingers 22 and-60 will move in a radial direction when the pressure in the cylinder 35 is Vreduced so as to permit-said carrier heads I0 and ll to move away from one-another. As the carrier heads separate, the yieldin-g, pressing, shaping and forming fingers slide over the edge of th'e fabric and smooth the same while at `the same time pressing said edge into contactual engagement with the previously shaped and formed portion of' said fabric.

When the heads are separated, another fabric band of slightly greater Width may-be applied to the drum* 6 overthe initial fabric band by spinning fthe drum to prevent stickingf'between the initial band fan-d the newlyappli'ed one. The

'process'is repeated'until the required num-ber of fabric bands 'or carcass vpockets Vhave beenbuilt up to form a carcassfblankof the desired 'thickness. The drum '6 may then becollapsed and the carcass blank removed forl'being expanded into shape bysuitable iiuid pressure-apparatus of the `usual'cons'truction and forming no part of the present invention.

It might be .added that `after the yielding, pressing and shapingfingers 22 and 60 have'been "contracted to perform the initial operation of folding, Icompactingv and pressing the edge loff the fabric into place about the curved portion ofthe drum 8, the fingers `may beheld `in, .their `contracted position by the latch levers-26 andr 55and then'the slide 32 operated* to move the hea-ds apart. It will thus be seen that-movementof the slide' 32 after th'e initial operation, piositionsfthe piston 43 in the left-hand'end ofthe .cylinder 35 so that when the yc'arrierIhead vil I is Areturned 'for the outfolding operation, .the pressure may berelieved from `the right-hand endcof the lcylinder 35 to thereby cause the retraction e of vthe carrier head H and the resultant 'movement-of the yielding, pressing, shaping and vforming'fingers in a radial direction. A slide 'carrieras described in connection with the carrierh'ead 'I l maybe'provided for the carrier head luto facilitate the operation thereof in asimilar Vmanner, lit being understood that the carrier-heads operate in unison during the pressing, shaping and forming operation as well as the folding back operation above described.

It is tobe understood that the form of the invention .herewith "shown and described is tobe taken as a preferred embodimentof the same and that various .changes may be made'in the shape, .size and arrangement ofv yparts without 8 l l departing from the ,spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I .claim is:

1. An apparatus for building carcasses for pneumatic tires, comprising a collapsible forming drum having a relatively :dat peripheral surface terminating at the sides'in curved edge portions for receiving a fabric blank of circular shape, a carrier head mounted on each side of the forming drum movable toward and raway therefrom, a series of slide rods mounted on each carrier head extending radially and obliquely to the axis of said drum, slides mounted on said slide rods 'for longitudinal movement thereon, a yielding, pressing and shaping finger secured to each' slide with its free end arranged in overlapping relation with adjacent pressing and shaping fingers, meansfor moving said carrier `heads toward said drum to cause said fingers to engage and smooth the overhanging edges of said fabric blank, vand means for yieldingly urging said slides and yi'elding ngers to the limit of their radial travel.

2. Anapparatus for building carcasses Afor pneumatic tires, comprising a collapsible-forming drum having a relatively flat peripheral'surface terminating at the sides in curved edge 'portions for receiving a fabric blank of circular shape, a carrier head mounted on each side of the forming drum movable toward and away therefrom, a series of slide rods mounted on each carrier head extending radially and obliquely 'to vthe axis ,of said drum, slides'mounted on said slide rods for longitudinal movement thereon, a'yielding, pressing and shaping finger secured to 'each slide with its free end arranged in overlapping relation with adjacent pressing and shaping iingers, means for moving said carrier heads ktoward said Vdrum to lcause said fingers to engage and smooth the overhanging edgesv of said fabric blank, means for yieldingly urging said slides and yielding fingers to the limit of their radial travel, and means for locking said slides and yielding, pressing and shaping fingers in a contracted position.

3. An apparatus for building carcasses for pneumatic tires, comprising a collapsible forming drum having a relatively flat peripheral surface terminating at the sidesin curved 4edge portions for receiving a fabric blank of circular shape,v a carrier head mounted on each .side of the 'forming drum movable toward and away therefrom, a series of slide rods mounted on each' vcarrierxhead extending radially and obliquely 1to` the-axis of said drum, slides mounted on said slide rods for longitudinal movement thereon, a yielding, pressing and shaping finger secured to each slide with its free end arranged in overlapping 4relation With adjacent pressing an-d shaping fingers, means for moving 'said carrier heads toward'said drum to cause said lingers to engage and smooth th'e overhanging edges of said fabric blank, means for yieldingly urging said slides and yielding 1ingers to the limit of their radial traveLmeans' for locking said slides and yielding, pressing and shaping fingers in a contracted position `against the action of said yielding means, and means carried by said carrier head for releasingjsaid locking means and causing said yielding, pressing and shaping lingers to be moved to a projected .position by said yieldingmeans.

s. An apparatus for building carcasses for pneumatic tires, comprising a `collapsible vforming drum having a relatively iiat peripheral surface terminating at the sides in curved 'edge portions for vreceiving a fabric blank of circular 9 shape, a carrier head mounted on each `side of the forming drum movable toward and away therefrom, a series of slide rods mounted on each carrier head extending radially and oblquely to the axis of said drum, slides mounted on said slide rods for longitudinal movement thereon, a yielding, pressing and shaping finger secured to ,each slide with its free end arranged in overlapping relation with adjacent pressing and shaping fingers, means for moving said carrier heads toward said drum to cause said fingers to engage and smooth the overhanging edges of said fabric blank, and means for yieldingly urging said slides and yielding lingers to the limit of their radial travel, said yielding, pressing and shaping fingers being formed of a resilient metal.

5. An apparatus for building carcasses for pneumatic tires, comprising a collapsible forming drum having a relatively flat peripheral surface terminating at the sides in curved edge portions for receiving a fabric blank of circular shape, a carrier head mounted on each side of the forming drum movable toward and away therefrom, a series of slide rods mounted on each carrier head extending radially and obliquely to the axis of said drum, slides mounted on said slide rods for longitudinal movement thereon, a yielding, pressing and shaping linger secured to each slide with its free end arranged in overlapping relation with adjacent pressing and shaping lingers, means for moving said carrier heads toward said drum to cause said fingers to engage and smooth' the overhanging edges of said fabric blank, and means for yieldingly urging said slides and yielding fingers to the limit of their radial travel, said last-named means including coil springs encircling the slide rods with one end of each coil spring arranged in abutting relation with a corresponding slide block and their opposite ends in engagement with said carrier heads.

6. An apparatus for building pneumatic tire carcasses, comprising a forming drum having arcuately shaped peripheral edge portions, said drum being adapted for receiving a fabric carcass band of .circular shape of sufficient width to overhang the edge portions of said forming drum, a series of yielding, pressing and forming ngers mounted on each side of the drum movable toward and away from the peripheral edge portion thereof to engage the overhanging edges of said carcass band and compress the same into conformity with the contour of th'e peripheral edge portions of said drum, means for moving said fingers radially and longitudinally, and means for locking said yielding, pressing and forming fingers in their contracted position so that they may be moved away from said drum to facilitate said overhanging edges being return bent, whereby they will be pressed and shaped upon the return movement of sai-d yielding 1ingers into engagement with said return bent edges and upon radial outward movement of said ngers.

7. An apparatus for building pneumatic tire carcasses, comprising a forming drum having arcuately shaped peripheral edge portions, said drum being adapted for receiving a fabric carcass band of circular shape of sumcient width to overhang the edge portions of said forming drum, a series of yielding, pressing and forming fingers mounted on each si-de of the drum movable in an axial direction toward and away from the peripheral edge portion thereof to engage the overhanging edges of said carcass band and compress the same into conformity with the 4contour of the peripheral edge portions of said drum, means for moving said fingers radially and longitudinally, means for locking said yielding, pressing and forming ngers in their contracted position so that they may be moved away from said drum to facilitate said overhanging edges being return bent, whereby they will be pressed and shaped upon the return movement of said yielding fingers into engagement with said return bent edges and upon radial outward movement of said fingers, and means for controlling said locking means.

RONALD J. BEAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

